riesenfbld



Specimens.)

E; R. RIESE'NPELD.

SHELF OIL CLOTH.

No. 291,939. Patented Jan. 15, 1884.

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EDWARD R. RIESENFELD, OF NEV IOllllt, h.

'VIGHT, 0F SAilllfl PLACE.

SHELF GELBCLTH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 291

,939, dated January 15, 1884.,

Application lilo-Il October 2. H2, (Specimens.)

To a/ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD Riom-inn RIESENFELD, of No. 61 Walker street, a subject of the King of Prussia, residing in the city, 5 count-y, and State of New York, haveinvented anew and useful article of manufacture which I call Shelf Oil-Cloth, and a new and use ful improvement in the art whereby the same is made, for which I have obtained no foreign. 1o patent, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an article intendedto take the place of the article known as shelfpaper, which is an ornainentally perforated i 5 paper prepared in strips,with the ornamented part on one edge so disposed that the unperforated part of the paper can be so placed as to cover the shelf proper, while the ornamental part hangs over and below the edge of the 2o shelf. Such paper is easily defaced and torn, requiring to be replaced at frequent intervals. .Plain enameled cloth has been tried as a substitute for the shelfpaper, being orna mentally pinked or perforated in the same manner, and

provided with an indented,scalloped, or pi nked edge; but the resulting product has failed to give satisfaction as shelf-covering materiahi'or the reason that the edges of the holes could not be clear cut, owing to the diiliculties pre- 3o sented by the iibers of the cloth, which, in part, resisting the knife, gave a ragged and unsightly appearance to the goods; and in use a further objection was developed-shelfpaper could not he washed. Shelf enameled cloth could be washed; but in washing it the Water would reach the ragged fibers about the perforations, pass through the holes to the unprotected cloth back of the goods, which presently became soiled and objectionable. rIlhis 4o state of facts has prevent-ed the adoption and general use of thisstyle ofshelf-covering. Also, strips of leather out or stamped out have been fastened to the edges of shelves. Further, enameled-cloth shelf-covering, when perforat- 15 ed ornan1entally,does not show as well as shel paper or present as distinctly the design intended, partly owing to the absence ofthe contrast in cloth of some colors which the holes present in shelf-paper, and partly owing to 5o the presence of the white fibers of the cloth material. These difliculties and objections are overcome in my invention, wherein an orn nn nal border is printed upon one edge of that part oi" the enameled clot-h intended fora shelf-cover, leaving that partintended to cover the top ol'l the shelf subsi ani-iai] y plain, while that part which is intended io hang' over the edge of the shelf is provided with a printed design or ornamental border ot' any desirable pattern. This .iesign may be printed on sin- 6o gie strips ol' the shelf-covering of any desired width and cover. A great variety of designs and colors can be used in many combinations, thereby producing an extended list oftastefulgoodsinthis particularclass. Iprepare light enameled cloth or other waterproof iiexihle fabric in various colors and in continuous sheets. Ithen prepare blocks for printing, having various lace and other like patterns thereon, and laying oil' the enameled cloth into strips to suit the dii'llfrent widths of shelf, I print the lace and other patterns in two or more parallel rows thereon. Subsequently, after drying and curing in any usual manner, I cut the i'ull sheets into strips having the lace pattern on one edge, so as to hang over the edge of the shelf when the plain part rests upon the shelf-top. In cutting the strips the edge may be left straight, or cut in scallops or in any other desired. forni. The printed herder takes the place and produces very much the eiieet of the perforated patterns in shelf-paper, which cannot be cut Wit-h clear and clean edges surrouiuling the holes made, as in paper, since the fiber in the cloth is found diilicult to eut perfect-ly.

The figure oi' the drawing represents the preferred forni of my invention.

A is the plain portionpvhich rests upon the top, and li is the decorativo margin to overhang the edge ofthe shell'. Ol' course the top A may he figured without dcj'iarting from the spirit of my invention, and the part'B infl'y be decorated by aseries of distinct designs. l"he design or designs, however, must he distinct, indel'iendcnt, and complete.

My shelioil-cloth can bewashcd and thereby he kept clean and swceigwhile at all times it presents a imperior appearance.

lli/hat i claim, and desire to secure by Lct- 1 rs atent ofthe United States, isal. As a new article of manufacture, the shelfcovering` described, consisting` of :t strip of border or margin designed to overhang the enameled or water-proof eloth or other fabric, edge of the shelf ornnniented by :L complete 1o havingr :i plain portion to cover the top of the l and independent decorative pattern 0r deshelf', and a printed decorative border on one sign, as specified.

5 side i0 overhang the edge of the shelf, as EDVARD R. RIESENFELD.

specified. Vitnesses:

2. A shelf-cover consisting of :i strip of NVM. H. BUTTERWORTII,

enameled or water-proof fabric, having the JAMES A. SKILTON. 

